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r ZShee'ts-Sheet 1. J. H. BURTON.

Car Coupling. No. 231,719. Y PatentedAug. 31,1880.

y ZSheets-Sheet 2.

1. H'. HORTQN. Gar Coupling.

` No. 231,719. PatentedAugB, 1880.

Y filme/@Z014 jy l UNTTED STATES PATENT OEErcEC JOHN H. HORTON, OF EAST POESTENKILL, NEW YORK.

cARr-couPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,719, dated August 31, 1880.

Application tiled June 17, 1879.

T 0 all whom fit muy concern Be it known that I, JonNH. HoR'roN, of East Poestenkill, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OarOoup- 1ers; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a top view of two of my improved draw-heads and coupling devices, partly in section; Fig. 2, a sectional view of two ofthe coupling devices, showing the parts `respectively in position for coupling and uncoupling. Fig. 3 represents a detached view of the pawl and its extension, carrying a coupling-pin; Fig. 4, a detached view of the pawl without the extension. Fig. 5 represents a top view ot the draw-head, showing the coupling devices arranged .in a horizontal position. Fig. 6 represents a side view of the same 5 and Fig. 7 represents a view, partly in section, of a moditication of the coupling devices as arranged when the drawhead is in such position as to allow the coupling devices -to work in a horizontal plane.

This invention relates to certain improvements in car-couplers; and it consists in the combination, with a draw-head, of a pawl pivoted in a suitable recess formed, in the drawhead for its reception and adapted to operate to automatically drop the coupling-pin into its seat in the draw-head, when two cars are brought together, into and through the coupling-link, the said pawl having attached to it by means of suitable connections a gravitating weight, by means of which the devices can be operated to assist in coupling and nncoupling the cars, the devices being arranged to operate in whatever position the draw-heads may be located.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates the draw-head of a carcoupler, which may be of the ordinary or any approved construction, and which is attached to the car in the usual manner. The letter B indicates an openingin the top, side, or bottom of said draw-head,

leading into the iiaring opening or mouth of said drawhead, and C (l, the openings for the reception of the coupling-pin, which, when raised from the draw-head, sits with its lower extremity in said opening, and is suitably secured at its upper extremity, so that it will be automatically dropped into the draw-head and through the coupling-link when the pawl C2 is tripped by the entrance of said link into the draw-head, as more fully hereinafter specied.

The pivoted pawl at its outer end is provided with an extension, D, slotted on oppo T site sides aud open at its lower end, in which is located the coupling-pin D', which is capable of a back-and-forth motion in said extension, the pin being confined therein by means of a cross-bar, E, extending through the opposite slots, and provided with a confining-wire, F, at its ends, or with confining-pins, as shown; or it may be secured by simply attaching to its ends the ends of the chains O, by Vwhich it is elevated to uncouple the cars.

In front ,of the upper opening C is located astop, H, which serves to prevent the coupling-pin from being misdirected as the pawl is shifted, and guides it into the upper opening when the cars are coupled. Instead of said stop, however, it is evident that the part-s ofthe draw-head at each side of the upper opening may be extended upward, so as to form a guide for said pin to'direet it into the upper aperture.

The letters K K represent two screws or bolts passing through the extension of the pawl, which serve to prevent lateral. shifting of the pin 5 and L, a groove formed at the upper edge of the pawl proper, which forms a seatin which thelower part of said couplingpin rests and is adapted to slide. This groove is not essential, however, and may be dispensed with.

The pawl is secured in place by means of a pivot, M, passing through the walls of the draw-head, and is provided with a segmental groove, which forms a seat for a chain, O, which is secured to a transverse pin, P, at one end, the other end passing through an opening, It, in the draw-head, and being secured to a gravitating weight, B,which is secured to an arm, S, pivoted at T to the draw-head. Said chain and weight serve to IOO assist in throwing back the pawl when elevating and withdrawing the coupling-pin.

In the modication shown in Figs. 5 and 6 mechanism is illustrated for operatin g the pawl when the draw-headis in aposition other than vertical, in which the letter A- represents one or more chains, to one end of each of which the ends of the cross-bars are connected. Said chain or chains, passing around a suitable pulley or pulleys, C', are secured to the draw-head, and have connected to their lower ends suitable weights D2, by means of which the coupling-pin is operated and thrown into its seat in the draw-head when said draw-head is so situated that the pawl and its extension are in a horizontal position.

It is evident that by means of similar pulleys arranged to meet the requirements ofthe case, and similar chains and wei gh ts, provision 'may be made for throwing the pin into place,

whatever may be the position of the drawhead and the pivoted pawl and extension.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the extension is provided with a sliding frame, Ef, Which is passed through the opposite ends of the cross-bar E, and is adapted to slide back and forth upon the extension. The chains in this case pass through transverse portions of the draw-head and over the pulley C' on the opposite side.

The operation ot' my invention will be readily understood in connection with the above description without further explanation.

' It is evident that the drawheads and coupling devices may be precisely alike on opposite cars, or that any description of draw-head and coupling device in which an ordinary coupling-link is employed may be used on the opposite car to which my improved coupling device is attached, by means oi' which I am enabled to use the device in connection with ordinary trains, which is a matterof great importance. Moreover., it will be seen that as constructed provision is madefor securing the draw-bars in any position, so that the pawl 45 and its extension maybe in a vertical orhorizontal position, or any intermediate position, and worked from above, at one side or below, as may prove most convenient, and also to connect with any height of bumper in ordi- 5o car-coupler, a pawl pivoted in an openingiinwo said draw-head and provided with an outward extension, serving as a support and guide to automatically drop the coupling-pin into its seat, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the draw-head ofa 65 car-coupler and the pivoted pawl and its cX- tension and coupling-pin, a stop secured to or formed on the draw-head in front of the upper opening of the coupling-pin, for guiding the pin to its seat in the draw-head, substan- 7o tially as specified.

et. In combination with the draw-head of a, car-coupling, a pawl pivoted in an opening in the draw-head and provided with a rectangular extension and a sliding frame, E', passed 75 through the opposite ends of the cross-bar E, and adapted to slide back and forth upon the extension to operate the coupling-pin, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 8o have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of June, 1879.

- JOHN H. HORTON. Witnesses:

GHRisTIAN SCHMIDT, H. J. ENGLAND. 

